AUCKLAND – The New Zealand Under 17 Women’s team has finished its international series with the Korea Republic on a high note after drawing 1-1 with the world heavy weights.

The world cup hosts bounced back from a 6-0 drubbing two days earlier to secure a great result in preparation for the world cup.

Sarah McLaughlin gave the Young Football Ferns the lead in the 11th minute with a well-taken free kick from the left hand corner of the area but a volley from Yeo Min Ji on the hour
mark drew Korea level.

Both sides had chances to win the match late in the game, with the best falling to Korean star Ji So Yun who had largely been kept quiet by Nadia Pearl.

Ji finally managed to wriggle free five minutes from time but her snap shot was athletically parried by Charlotte Wood to ensure the sides finished level.

The Young Football Ferns now switch their attention to a mini-tournament involving women’s football powerhouses USA, Germany and Australia at the end of January.

New Zealand 1 (Sarah McLaughlin 11) Korea Republic 1 (Yeo Min Ji 60)

December 12, 2007

Taharoto Park, Takapuna

Referee: Neil Fox

New Zealand: 1-Charlotte WOOD (GK), 3-Rebecca BROWN (Captain), 4-Leah GALLIE (15-Gabrielle KERDEMELIDIS 87), 5-Briony FISHER, 6-Bridgette ARMSTRONG, 8-Yumi NGUYEN (11-Rosie WHITE
59), 9-Hannah WALL (18-Lauren MATHIS 87), 13-Nadia PEARL, 14-Megan SHEA, 17-Jessica ROLLINGS (7-Caitlin CAMPBELL 68), 19-Sarah MCLAUGHLIN.

Substitutes not used: 2-Anna FULLERTON, 10-Annalie LONGO, 16-Maia VINK, 20-Danielle MCFADYEN (RGK)

Korea Republic: 21-SHIM Danbi (GK), 5-JI So Yun (Captain), 6-LEE Young Joo (13-OH Yu Sun 87), 7-LEE Minsun (2-KIM Jungin 90+2), 8-KOH Kyung Yeon, 10-SONG Ari, 12-LEE Eunkyung, 14-LEE
Hyunyoung (15-YEO Min Ji 31 / 9-MOK Hyunsu 76), 16-CHO Sun Hwa, 20-SHIN Mina, 23-PARK Heeyoung (11-OH Hye Mi 49).

Substitutes not used: 1-JUNG Boram (RGK), 3-CHO Dasom, 4-KIM Suyeon, 18-KIM Dasom, 19-SEO Hyunsook, 22-LEE Hanna (RGK)

Story courtesy of NZ football. For more visit www.nzfootball.com